Fastening element and side-rail arrangement

ABSTRACT

A fastening element ( 10, 10′ ) for arranging a device, preferably a pull-out guide, in or on a domestic appliance, preferably in an oven, on two bars ( 6, 7, 7′ ) which are parallel substantially in the X direction and are spaced apart from one another in the Z direction, having a first holder ( 11 ), which can be arranged on a first bar ( 7, 7′ ), and a second holder ( 20, 20′ ), which can be arranged on a second bar ( 6 ), wherein the second holder ( 20, 20′ ) is designed as a fixed bearing for accommodating different thicknesses of second bar ( 6 ), and the first holder ( 11 ) is configured as a movable bearing for compensating for different designs, spacings and/or thicknesses of the two bars ( 6, 7, 7′ ).

A fastening element and a side-grid arrangement

The present invention relates to a fastening element for arranging an apparatus on two bars and a side-grid arrangement for a domestic appliance, especially a baking oven.

EP 1 158 185 discloses a quick-fastening element for fixing a guide rail of a pull-out guide to a side-grid. The quick-fastening element comprises an upper holding section which comprises a V-shaped receiver and which can be placed around an upper bar. A second latching receiver is further provided, on which a bottom bar can be fixed in a clamping fashion. Said quick-fastening element has generally proven successful due to stable fastening and simple mounting. However, the fastening element can only be used in a specific arrangement of the bar, i.e. the thickness and distance of the bars in the Z direction.

DE 10 2009 034 967 discloses the fixing of a pull-out guide via a front spring clip and a rear spring clip. The front spring clip comprises a U-shaped receiver, on which two bars can be fixed in a latching fashion. It is disadvantageous with respect to this fastening system that two different fastening elements are inserted per guide rail. Furthermore, the front spring clip can be inserted only for a predetermined side-grid arrangement, in which the distance between the two bars in the Z direction and the diameter of the bars are known. The use for different side-grid arrangements is not provided.

DE 10 2010 021 283 discloses a fastening part for a pull-out guide with a first hook part and a second hook part. Both hook parts are respectively detachably connectable to a guide section of one respective bar. In this process, the fastening part is only fixed in the Z direction by a lateral tongue of the first hook part which engages beneath a fastening section of the bar. It is disadvantageous with respect to this invention that the fastening part can only be used in a predetermined side-grid arrangement in which the distance of the bars in the Z direction and the thickness of the bars are known. Otherwise, it cannot be fastened or there is the likelihood that the pull-out guide cannot be guided securely because the hooks have play in the Y and/or Z direction. Both hook parts are not provided with a clamping configuration; fixing occurs by a pivotable hook. The fastening part is also provided in accordance with the invention especially only for the rear fastening of the pull-out guide. For the front fastening of the guide rail in particular, a fastening part with a separate pivotable hook is provided in accordance with the invention. In this case too, two different fastening parts are used per guide rail.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a fastening element for arranging an apparatus which enables the simple fixing on two bars which are parallel substantially in the X direction and are spaced apart from one another in the Z direction, and can be mounted flexibly on different bar arrangements.

This object is achieved by a fastening element with the features of claim 1.

In accordance with the invention, the fastening element comprises a first holder which can be arranged on a first bar, and a second holder which can be arranged on a second bar, wherein the second holder is arranged as a fixed bearing for accommodating a second bar with different thicknesses, and the first holder is arranged as a movable bearing for compensating different configurations, spacings and/or thicknesses of the two bars.

A fixed bearing shall be understood in this specification as a bearing point which does not have any degrees of freedom in the effective direction of gravity. The fastening element therefore comes at least tangentially into contact on the circumference of the bar at several points. The contact points lie in the region opposite of the effective direction of gravity. It is thus not necessary that the bar is enclosed over the entire circumference by the fastening element for forming a fixed bearing within the terms of the specification. An enclosure of at least one third of the bar is sufficient in order to form a respective fixed bearing. A section can be formed on the fastening element for example which is substantially shaped in the form of a circular segment.

In order to secure the bar in the fastening element, an elastically deformable section can be provided in the region of the fastening element facing the effective direction of gravity. After the insertion of the bar into the fastening element, said section springs back to its initial position to such an extent that the smallest bar diameter provided for this fastening element can no longer pass the opening.

The term of movable bearing describes an arrangement in this specification that a further bar is fixed in a clamping fashion exclusively transversely to the effective direction of gravity. There is a possibility in the effective direction of gravity to vary the position of the further bar in the dimensions of the resilient elements. This produces a radial displaceability of the bar relative to the fastening element, but no axial displaceability of the bar relative to the fastening element.

This combination of a fixed and movable bearing in accordance with the invention leads to a very high level of flexibility for fastening, e.g. of fittings on bars extending substantially in a parallel manner. These bars can be arranged with different geometries concerning the diameter, the thickness and the shaping. Furthermore, “disturbance points” such as depressions in the progression of the bar can be engaged by the fastening element in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with the invention, the fastening element comprises a first holder, which comprises at least one clamping section which exerts a main force on the first bar in the Y direction, which main force is configured in such a way that irrespective of the thickness and position of the first bar in the Z direction a minimum clamping force acts on the first bar in the Y direction. The minimum clamping force is dimensioned in any case to such an extent that the first holder can be fixed securely on the first bar in the mounted state in the Y direction irrespective of the loading situation of the apparatus. In this process, the resulting clamping force acting on the first bar is dependent on the thickness of the first bar in the Y direction on the at least one clamping section. In contrast, the at least one clamping section exerts virtually no force on the first bar in the Z direction in comparison to the main force in the Y direction. This means that the first bar is fixed by the first holder neither in the X direction nor in the Z direction. The second holder of the fastening element comprises at least one substantially U-shaped or V-shaped holding section and preferably at least one securing means against lifting of the second bar in the second holder.

A highly flexible fastening of an apparatus, preferably a pull-out guide in or on a domestic appliance, can be realised by using at least one fastening element in accordance with the invention. The fastening element can be used for compensating various configurations, thicknesses and spacings of the bar in the Z direction with respect to each other. The at least one clamping section ensures that the first bar is always fixed in a clamping fashion in the Y direction in the mounted state. The bars can be provided with a round, oval, canted or other cross section, or they can be arranged as strips. As a result of the first and second holder arranged in accordance with the invention, the fastening element can be securely fixed with respect to all bar thicknesses and spacings of the bar in the Z direction which are available on the market. Known thicknesses of the bar lie approximately between two and ten millimetres, especially between three and six millimetres. The spacing of the bars in the Z direction with respect to each other can vary. The spacings generally lie between 10 and 50 mm. The at least one clamping section of the first holder is advantageously arranged in such a way that it comprises the entire distance in the Z direction. As a result, the fastening element has a large tolerance range with respect to the spacing of the two bars. This allows the use of the fastening element in accordance with the invention on different side-grid arrangements.

The X direction shall be understood as being the horizontal direction, in the longitudinal direction of the bars. Accordingly, the Y direction is the horizontal direction transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bars. The Z direction is understood as being the vertical direction.

It is understood with respect to bars which are substantially parallel in the X direction that the bars have a deviation of a maximum of +/−10° to the parallel, or that at least one bar can comprise regions over the length with special geometries such as so-called bars depressions.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the first holder comprises at least two wall sections which are substantially parallel in the Z direction and which delimit the first holder in the Y direction. At least one wall section is provided with at least one clamping section. In this process, the at least one clamping section can be formed by at least one spring element, especially by a resilient web, a leaf spring or the like, which can protrude in the Y direction from a wall section. A combination of different spring elements is also possible. Several clamping regions or spring elements can also be provided alternatively. At least one spring element can advantageously be integrally attached to the bottom side as an insertion bevel.

The two wall sections of the first holder can be arranged in an offset fashion in the X direction of the first bar. At least two wall sections can be provided on one side of the first bar on the first holder for stable fixing of the fastening element, so that twisting of the fastening element about a vertical axis is securely prevented.

The second receiver preferably comprises on the U-shaped or preferably V-shaped holding section a protruding handle section for bending up the U-shaped or preferably V-shaped holding section, which protruding handle section is preferably integrally arranged with a leg. Mounting of the fastening element is thus facilitated. Furthermore, the securing means against lifting off from the second bar can be arranged in a flexible fashion and can comprise a guide bevel for inserting the second bar into the second holder. As a result of the flexible arrangement of the U-shaped or preferably V-shaped holding section and the securing means, the second bars can be accommodated with different configurations and/or thicknesses. The V-shaped holding section ensures that the second bar will always rest on at least two points on the holding section irrespective of its geometry.

The second holder may comprise a continuous handle section which corresponds for example to the entire length of the fastening element. A higher stiffness of the holding section is thus achieved. Alternatively, the second holder can also comprise two or more holding sections with two or more legs and one or several recesses without mutually connected handle sections, which are preferably situated in the region of the at least one securing means. This embodiment can be used for example for bars of lower thickness. In the case of partial depressions of the bars, in which the side-grid arrangements comprise regions in which the bars spaced from each other in the Z direction have a non-parallel alignment in the X direction with respect to each other, it is sufficient if one leg of the holding section encloses the second bar in order to prevent a release of the pull-out guide. In this region, the second bar may comprise stiffening portions in the Z direction. They can form an additional fixing of the fastening element on the second bar.

In the region of the second holder on at least one exterior side, the fastening element may comprise a recess for fixing the fastening element to a bent-off end region of the second bar of the side-grid arrangement. The recess can be provided in an especially advantageous manner on each of the two exterior sides and have the shape of a circular section for example.

For the purpose of simple production of the fastening element, it can be made from a punched or bent sheet metal, preferably in an integral fashion. In order to increase the stability of the fastening element, the element may comprise at least one stiffening bead, a profiling or the like, e.g. in the region of a wall section.

In accordance with the invention, a side-grid arrangement for domestic appliances, especially a baking oven, is also provided, comprising at least one pair of bars which are substantially parallel in the X direction and which form a spacing between each other in the Z direction, in which at least one fastening element in accordance with the invention is fixed to two bars. Preferably, two identical fastening elements are provided, on which a guide rail of a pull-out guide is fixed. Furthermore, two identical fastening elements for fixing the guide rails on both sides of the side-grid arrangement can be used. As a result, the fastening element can be used in a highly versatile manner and no different fastening elements for the various fixing points on the side-grid arrangement are required. In each side-grid arrangement, the first bar is fixed in the mounting position in a clamping fashion in the Y direction and the second bar is fixed in the X, Y and Z direction.

The invention will be explained below in closer detail by reference to an embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show two views of a side-grid arrangement with fastening elements in accordance with the invention in the mounted position;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the side-grid arrangement of FIG. 1 in the rear region;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the side-grid arrangement of FIG. 1 in the front region;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show two views of the side-grid arrangement of FIG. 1 in the region of a fastening element;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two views of the side-grid arrangement of FIG. 1 during the mounting of a fastening element;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fastening element in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 8A to 8F show several views of the fastening element of FIG. 7, and

FIGS. 9A to 9C show several views of an alternative fastening element in accordance with the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first bar 7 is shown as the bottom bar and the second bar 6 is shown as the upper bar 6, wherein the first bar 7 is in engagement with the bottom first holder 11 and the second bar 6 is in engagement with the upper second holder 20. It also lies within the scope of the invention that the first bar 7 is arranged at the top and the second bar 6 at the bottom, and the first holder 11 at the top and the second holder 20 at the bottom. The directional details merely relate to the embodiment that is described below in closer detail and shall not be regarded as limiting for the invention.

For the purpose of the explanations below, a horizontal direction perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the bars 6 and 7 shall form the Y direction, the longitudinal direction of the bars 6 and 7 the X direction, and the vertical direction the Z direction, as is shown in FIG. 1A.

In accordance with the invention, the fastening element 10, 10′ comprises a first holder 11, which comprises at least one clamping section 13 which exerts a main force F on the first bar 7, 7′ in the Y direction, which is arranged in such a way that irrespective of the thickness and the position in the Z direction of the first bar 7, 7′ a minimum clamping force F_(min) acts in the Y direction on the first bar 7, 7′. The minimum clamping force F_(min) is so high that the first holder 11 is securely fixed to the first bar 7, 7′ in the mounted state in the Y direction irrespective of the loading situation of the apparatus. The resulting clamping force F_(res) which acts on the first bar 7, 7′ depends on the thickness of the first bar 7, 7′ in the Y direction in the at least one clamping section 13. In contrast, the at least one clamping section 13 virtually exerts no force on the first bar 7, 7′ in the Z direction in relationship to the main force F in the Y direction. This means that the first bar 7, 7′ is fixed by the first holder 11 neither in the X direction nor in the Z direction.

A cooking product carrier 1 is displaceably mounted in a baking oven and rests for this purpose on opposite sides with an edge 2 on a pull-out guide 3. Each pull-out guide 3 comprises a movable running rail 4 and a fixed guide rail 5. The guide rail 5 is fixed to a side-grid arrangement 9 via fastening elements 10. Each side-grid 9 comprises two vertical pillars 8 and bars 6 and 7 arranged in pairs, wherein each fastening element 10 is fixed to a first bar 7 and a second bar 6.

The guide rail 5 is fixed to the side-grid 9 via a front fastening element 10 and a rear fastening element 10. The two fastening elements 10 are arranged identically and are detachably arranged on the bars 6 and 7.

FIG. 1B shows the rear fastening element 10 in the region of a partial depression 28 in the bar. The fastening element 10 comprises two holding sections 32 with a middle recess 30 in the region of the second holder 20. In this example, only one holding section 32 comprises the second bar 6. The other holding section 32, which is the front one in this case, is arranged in the region of the partial depression 28 of the bar. In this example, the second bar 6 comprises stiffening portions 29 in the Z direction before and behind the partial depression 28 of the bar.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the fastening element 10 comprises a slot-shaped first holder 11, through which the first bar 7 is guided. The first holder 11 is formed by an outer wall section 12 and two inner wall sections 14. A clamping section 13, which protrudes in the Y direction towards the first bar 7, is arranged in form of a spring web with a guide bevel 31 on the outer wall section 12, which spring web rests in a clamping fashion in the Y direction on the bar 7. The first bar 7 is not fixed/limited in the Z direction by the first holder 11.

FIG. 3 also shows that in the region of the second holder 20 on the exterior side adjacent to the bent-off end region 27 of the second bar 6 the fastening element 10 comprises a recess 26 for positioning the fastening element on the bent-off end region 27.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fastening element 10 is shown in the mounted position. The guide rail 5 can be fixed to the fastening element 10 via mechanical means or by welding or gluing. The clamping section 13 in form of a spring web rests on one side of the bottom bar 7 on the bottom first holder 11 of the fastening element 10, which bottom bar 7 is held in an interlocking fashion on the wall section 12 between the wall sections 14 and the clamping section 13. Furthermore, the upper second bar 6 is held in an upper second holder 20 of the fastening element 10, which comprises a V-shaped holding section 32 with a first leg 21 and a second leg 22. The legs 21 and 22, which spread apart in an oblique fashion, rest on the upper region of the second bar 6. A securing means is formed on the bottom side of the second bar 6, which securing means secures the second bar 6 against dropping out of the holder 20 and prevents the fastening element 10 from lifting off.

FIG. 5 shows the fastening element 10 during mounting. The first bar 7 is inserted at first into the slot-like first holder 11 of the fastening element 10. Subsequently, the obliquely aligned fastening element 10 is pivoted about the axis of the first bar 7, wherein the second bar 6 is inserted into the holder 20 between a handle section 23 which is arranged integrally with the leg 22 and a guide bevel 25 which protrudes from the securing means 24. Subsequently, the second bar 6 is latched into the second holder 20, as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 4B. In so far as the second bar 6 is still held with play in the second holder 20, the handle section 23 can be pressed downwardly in order to press the legs 21 and 22 against the second bar 6. In addition or alternatively, the guide bevel 25 on the securing means 24 can be bent upwardly so that the web 24 rests on the bottom side of the bar 6 and the bar 6 is held in a substantially interlocking fashion in the holder 20. Alternatively, the guide bevel 25 on the securing means 24 can be arranged from a constructional standpoint to be bent upwardly. It can also be advantageous if the securing means 24 is arranged to be inclined in an ascending fashion towards the second bar 6.

FIG. 6 shows that the fastening element 10 can be mounted even in the case of a different distance between the two bars 6, 7 and 7′, because—as indicated by the double arrow H—the first bar 7, 7′ can be arranged in the Z direction in different positions within the slot-shaped holder 11. As a result, the fastening element 10 can be used flexibly for side-grid 9 which are configured and/or formed in different ways.

FIG. 6 shows two identical fastening elements 10 mounted on two different side-grid arrangements 9, 9′, which differ in the position of the bars 7 and 7′, such that both bars 6, 7, 7′ of the side-grid 9, 9′ have different distances with respect to each other in the Z direction. The first holder 11 is fixed in a clamping fashion to the first bar 7, 7′ in the Y direction both in the side-grid 9 and also in the side-grid arrangement 9′. As a result, the fastening element 10 can be used flexibly for side-grid arrangement 9, 9′ which are configured and/or formed in different ways.

FIGS. 7 and 8A to 8F show a fastening element 10 in accordance with the invention in closer detail. The fastening element 10 is made of a punched and bent sheet metal, wherein manufacture from plastic or other materials is also possible.

The first holder 11 for inserting the first bar 7 is provided with a downwardly open configuration and is formed by producing a recess 15, in which a wall section 12 extending in the Z direction is connected via a step 16 to the remaining fastening element 10. A C-shaped recess 18 is formed on the wall section 12, which recess 18 encloses the clamping section 13 in form of a spring web. The clamping section 13 is flexibly arranged and is connected via a bridge section 19 to the wall section 12. The clamping section 13 comprises a contact strip for resting on the first bar 7.

Two mutually spaced wall sections 14 are formed on the opposite side of the holder 11, so that pivoting movements of the fastening element 10 about an axis in the Z direction are avoided. Two stiffening beads 33 are formed on the wall section 14, which beads increase the stability of the fastening element 10. A bead 17 is further arranged in the region of the step 16, which ensures higher stability of the wall section 12.

A second holder 20 for inserting the second bar 6 is further arranged on the fastening element 10. The holder 20 is formed by two V-shaped holding sections 32, which comprise two legs 21 and 22 and can be placed on the upper side of the bar. A securing means 24 with a protruding guide bevel 25 is arranged between the two holders 20 with the legs 21 and 22. The holder 20 and the securing means 24 are arranged in an offset manner in the X direction, similar to the wall section 12 in relation to the wall sections 14.

FIGS. 9A to 9C show in detail an alternative embodiment of the fastening element 10′ in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the fastening element 10′ comprises a second holder 20′ for inserting the second bar 6 in which a handle section 23′ is arranged in a continuous fashion.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second bar 6 is held in a substantially interlocking fashion on the second holder's 20, 20′ of the fastening element 10, 10′, while the first bar 7, 7′ is fixed in a clamping fashion only in the Y direction and is not fixed in the Z direction. It is obviously also possible to fix the first bar to a respective second holder 20, 20′ and to keep the second bar 6 displaceable in the Z direction on the fastening element 10, 10′.

Furthermore, the wall sections 12 and 14 as well as the legs 21 and 22 are arranged in an offset fashion in the X direction in the illustrated embodiment in relation to the securing means 24. It is obviously also possible to arrange the wall sections 12 and 14 as well as the legs 21 and 22 and the securing means 24 directly opposite of one another, i.e. without any offset in the X direction.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Cooking product carrier

2 Edge

3 Pull-out guide

4 Running rail

5 Guide rail

6 Bar

7 Bar

7′ Bar

8 Pillar

9 Side-grid

9′ Side-grid

10 Fastening element

10′ Fastening element

11 Holder

12 Wall section

13 Clamping section

14 Wall section

15 Recess

16 Step

17 Bead

18 Recess

19 Bridge section

20 Holder

20′ Holder

21 Leg

22 Leg

23 Handle section

23′ Handle section

24 Securing means

25 Guide bevel

26 Recess

27 Bent-off end region

28 Depression in the bar

29 Stiffening portion

30 Recess

31 Insertion bevel

32 Holding section

33 Stiffening bead

F Main force

F_(min) Minimum clamping force

F_(res) Resulting clamping force

H Tolerance range 

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A fastening element (10, 10′) for arranging an apparatus, in or on a domestic appliance, on two bars (6, 7, 7′) which are substantially parallel in a first direction (X) and which are spaced from each other in a second direction (Z), comprising: a first holder (11) arranged on a first bar (7, 7′); and a second holder (20, 20′) arranged on a second bar (6), wherein the second holder (20, 20′) is arranged as a fixed bearing for accommodating a second bar (6) in various thicknesses, and the first holder (11) is configured as a movable bearing for compensating different designs, spacings and/or thicknesses of the two bars (6, 7, 7′), wherein the first holder (11) comprises at least two substantially parallel wall sections (12, 14) which delimit the first holder in the Y direction, and wherein at least two wall sections (14) are provided on one side of the first bar (7, 7′) on the first holder (11).
 21. The fastening element (10, 10′) according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus is a pull-out guide.
 22. The fastening element (10, 10) according to claim 20, wherein the domestic appliance is a baking oven.
 23. The fastening element according to claim 20, wherein the first holder (11) comprises at least one clamping section (13).
 24. The fastening element according to claim 23, wherein the at least one clamping section (13) exerts a main force (F) in a third direction (Y) on the first bar (7, 7′), and wherein a minimum clamping force (F_(min)) acts on the first bar (7, 7′) by the main force (F) in the third direction irrespective of the thickness and position in the second direction (Z) of the first bar (7, 7′).
 25. The fastening element according to claim 24, wherein the resulting clamping force (F_(res)) in the third direction (Y) is dependent on the thickness and/or position in the second direction (Z) of the first bar (7, 7′) on the clamping section (13).
 26. The fastening element according to claim 20, wherein the at least one clamping section (13) exerts virtually no force on the first bar (7, 7′) in the second direction (Z) in relation to the main force (F) in the third direction.(Y).
 27. The fastening element according to claim 20, wherein the first holder (11) comprises at least two substantially parallel wall sections (12, 14) which delimit the first holder in the third direction (Y).
 28. The fastening element according to claim 27, wherein at least two wall sections (14) are provided on one side of the first bar (7, 7′) on the first holder (11).
 29. The fastening element according to claim 27, wherein at least one wall section (12) with at least one clamping section (13) is provided on the first holder (11).
 30. The fastening element according to claim 29, wherein the at least one clamping section (13) is formed by a spring element, especially by a resilient web, a leaf spring or the like.
 31. The fastening element according to claim 20, wherein the second holder (20) comprises on the U-shaped or V-shaped holding section (32, 32′) a protruding handle section (23, 23′) for bending the U-shaped or V-shaped holding section (32, 32′).
 32. The fastening element according to claim 20, wherein the second holder (20, 20′) comprises a securing means (24) against lifting-off from the second bar (6).
 33. The fastening element according to claim 32, wherein the securing means (24) is flexibly arranged and comprises a guide bevel (25) for inserting the second bar (6) into the second holder (20, 20′).
 34. The fastening element according to claim 20, wherein the second holder (20, 20′) comprises on at least one exterior side a recess (26) for positioning the fastening element (10, 10′) on an end region (27) of the second bar (6) which is bent off in the third direction (Y).
 35. A side-grid (9, 9′) for a baking oven with at least two bars (6, 7, 7′) that are substantially parallel in a first direction (X) and are spaced from each other in a second direction (Z), wherein at least one fastening element (10, 10′) according to claim 20 is fixed to two bars (6, 7, 7′) of the side-grid arrangement.
 36. The side-grid according to claim 35, wherein two identical fastening elements (10, 10′) are provided, on which a guide rail (5) of a pull-out guide (3) is fixed.
 37. The side-grid according to claim 35, wherein in the mounted position the first bar (7, 7′) is fixed in a clamping fashion in a third direction (Y) and the second bar (6) is fixed in the first, second and third directions (X,Y, Z). 